April 27, 2025

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AI News: Google Cloud, Meta, Amazon, Nvidia, Artisan, AI in Warfare, Space Station, and More

Recent advancements in artificial intelligence have been making headlines, with various applications and implications across different fields. The use of AI in warfare has raised ethical concerns, as seen in the Israeli military's deployment of AI technology to locate and kill a Hamas commander. In other developments, tech companies such as Google and Meta are expanding their AI initiatives, with Google's parent company reporting a surge in Google Cloud sales and Meta developing a novel AI-powered tech stack. However, the rapid expansion of AI technology is also straining resources, such as water consumption in Texas, and posing challenges to various fields, including the humanities. Meanwhile, companies like Amazon and Nvidia are exploring options to meet their growing energy demands, and startups like Artisan are raising funds to revolutionize the sales landscape with AI. Additionally, AI is being used in innovative ways, such as the introduction of an AI-powered mascot by the Houston Rockets and the development of AI-powered tools to support critical work on the International Space Station.

Key Takeaways

  • The Israeli military used AI technology to locate and kill a Hamas commander, raising ethical concerns about the use of AI in warfare.
  • Google's parent company reported a surge in Google Cloud sales, driven by the adoption of its most advanced large language model to date.
  • Meta developed a novel AI-powered tech stack to support critical work on the International Space Station.
  • The rapid expansion of AI technology is straining water resources in Texas, with data centers consuming vast amounts of water to cool computers.
  • Companies like Amazon and Nvidia are exploring options to meet their growing energy demands, including the use of fossil fuels.
  • Startups like Artisan are raising funds to revolutionize the sales landscape with AI, using automation to identify leads and craft personalized messages.
  • The use of AI in academia is posing challenges to the humanities, with concerns about the potential replacement of human professors and researchers.
  • The Andhra Pradesh Government is training staff in AI to implement AI-driven innovations across government functions.
  • The concept of AI consciousness is becoming less taboo in the tech industry, with researchers investigating the possibility of AI systems developing consciousness.
  • The Houston Rockets introduced an AI-powered mascot to provide real-time information and answer fan inquiries about the team.

IDF uses AI to kill Hamas terrorist

The Israeli military used artificial intelligence to eliminate a Hamas commander, Ibrahim Biari, in the Gaza Strip. The AI technology was used to locate Biari by listening to his calls. The technology was developed a decade ago but was only used when Biari was struck by the IDF. The AI tool was also used to locate hostages taken by the terrorist organization. The attack that killed Biari also killed 50 other terrorists. The use of AI in warfare raises ethical concerns, including the potential for civilian casualties due to mistaken identification.

Israel uses AI to target Hamas leaders

Israel has used artificial intelligence tools to target Hamas leaders, including locating and killing Ibrahim Biari, a Hamas commander. The technology was used to track Biari's phone calls and identify his location. The Israeli military also used AI to create lists of possible targets and make an Arabic chatbot to scan and analyze text messages and social media. The use of AI in warfare raises concerns about civilian casualties and the potential for mistaken identifications.

Booz Allen and Meta develop AI vision language model

Booz Allen Hamilton and Meta have developed a novel AI-powered tech stack, called Space Llama, to support critical work on the International Space Station. The technology uses NVIDIA CUDA GPUs and is designed to decrease reliance on instructions from the ground while deployed at the edge. The goal is to lower costs, reduce computing power required, and achieve faster outcomes when responding to onboard anomalies or maintenance issues. The tech stack is comprised of Booz Allen's modular open architecture platform and a fine-tuned version of Meta's Llama 3.2.

AI consciousness debate gains traction

The concept of AI consciousness is becoming less taboo in the tech industry. Anthropic, a startup, has launched a research initiative to explore whether models might one day experience consciousness. A scientist at Google DeepMind described current models as 'exotic mind-like entities.' The topic raises questions about the potential consciousness and experiences of models and whether they should be treated with the same rights as humans. Researchers are investigating the possibility of AI systems developing consciousness and the implications it could have.

Google expands AI initiatives

Google's parent company, Alphabet, reported stronger-than-expected earnings and revenue for the first quarter, driven by a nearly 10% increase in its core search business and a 28% surge in Google Cloud sales. CEO Sundar Pichai highlighted the company's progress in AI, including the adoption of Gemini 2.5, its most advanced large language model to date. Google is also weighing options for its autonomous vehicle division, Waymo, including personal ownership of the vehicles. Additionally, the company is exploring the concept of 'generative ghosts,' which are dynamic AI twins that can create new conversations and respond to current events.

AI strains Texas water resources

The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence technology is straining Texas' water resources, as data centers consume vast amounts of water to cool the computers powering AI systems. A single 100-word email can consume the equivalent of one bottle of water. The energy demands of AI also exacerbate the water problem, with some data centers using as much water as 30,000 households daily. To address this issue, some Texas data centers are exploring innovative solutions, such as shifting workloads to cooler nighttime hours and implementing rainwater harvesting systems.

AP Government trains staff in AI

The Andhra Pradesh Government is shortlisting staff for intensive training in artificial intelligence, with the goal of making them 'change agents.' The training program will be conducted by the Real Time Governance Society and will focus on implementing AI-driven innovations across government functions. The government aims to use AI to improve governance and service delivery, and to accelerate the adoption of emerging technologies like machine learning.

Humanities face AI challenges

The rise of artificial intelligence is posing significant challenges to the humanities, with many academics and researchers struggling to adapt to the new technology. Some are concerned that AI could replace human professors and researchers, while others see it as an opportunity to enhance teaching and research. The use of AI in academia raises questions about the role of humans in the educational process and the potential impact on the humanities. As AI becomes more advanced, it is likely to have a profound impact on the way we learn and interact with information.

Amazon and Nvidia consider fossil fuels for AI power

Amazon and Nvidia are considering the use of fossil fuels, including natural gas, to power their artificial intelligence operations. The companies are facing growing energy demands and are exploring all options to meet their needs. While they have invested in renewable energy, they may need to rely on fossil fuels in the short term to ensure a steady and secure power supply. The use of fossil fuels raises concerns about the environmental impact of AI, but the companies are also investing in advanced nuclear and carbon capture technology to reduce their carbon footprint.

Artisan raises $25M for AI sales platform

Artisan, a startup that aims to revolutionize the sales landscape with AI, has raised $25 million in a Series A funding round. The company's platform uses AI to automate the sales process, including identifying leads, crafting personalized messages, and scheduling meetings. Artisan plans to use the funding to accelerate research and development, expand its AI workforce, and enhance its sales platform. The company's approach is to provide fully autonomous AI employees that can take over specific job functions, freeing up human sales teams to focus on more creative and strategic work.

Rockets introduce AI-powered mascot

The Houston Rockets are introducing an AI-powered mascot, called ClutchBot, which will provide real-time information and answer fan inquiries about the team. The mascot will utilize a custom AI agent trained on the Rockets and NBA data and will be available on the team's website and mobile app. The goal is to provide a more personalized and engaging fan experience, with ClutchBot able to answer questions about upcoming games, tickets, lineups, stats, venue information, and team news.

Sources

AI Artificial Intelligence Machine Learning Deep Learning Natural Language Processing AI in Warfare